The Third day of Thanksgiving....

I know....its almost over....BUT after a very long day.....On the Third Day of Thanksgiving my Heavenly Father gave to me.....
Teachers

I am so thankful for teachers. The teachers my children have had and have. he teachers I work with daily. The teachers of the spirit. The past couple of years I have had the awesome job of working along side some of the most amazing teachers. Every day I become more in awe of what they know, what they do , and the lives they reach. It is incredible how plainly it has been made to me that the Lord truly does bless people with gifts. The teachers who have influenced my life, have the gift of teaching.
I am sooooooo thankful for the elementary teachers of all of my children. Each one was exactly what they needed. These teachers have cared so deeply for my children, there relationships with each one will be forever. I was surprised to receive a envelope in district mail...now I get envelopes daily in district mail for classes BUT this one was different...It was from Scera Park Ele. Our former elementary school. There was a letter inside address to Dallin. It was from his 4th grade teacher Mrs. Louder. Tears welled up in my eyes as we read her sweet note. Dallin is now in 7th grade....he is still important to her. I honestly feel that because of the great love my children's teachers have for them, it has helped mold them into the people they are becoming.
I am thankful for teachers who care about the success of the student but also care about more than grades. Who take the time to stop me in the halls, send me a email, asking about my children, noticing when they are having a bad day, or celebrating a success. I am grateful that my children love their teachers. They care enough about their teachers to realize they give more than grades, they are people....so they stop by to say hi to them, visit with them.
Thank you Heavenly Father for my job, for giving me the opportunity to be fed knowledge daily. Thank you


 for teachers.

The Second Day of Thanksgiving...

On the Second Day of Thanksgiving my Heavenly Father gave to me....
COLOR=)

"If you never unleash your true colors, you will always be insecure on the path to your dreams."

"Photographs taken in color show the beauty of the people in colorful clothes and scenery...photographs taken in black and white, show the beauty of peoples souls."

" Sometimes it's important to work for the pot of gold. But other times it essential to take time off to make sure your most important decision of the day, simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow"-Douglas Pagels, 'These are the Gifts I'd like to Give You: A source book of Joy and Encouragement

I am grateful for color in my life. I am grateful for the ways it allows me to express my inner self. I love to color the walls of my home. In each room, creating a personality and feeling. My children love color. They create beautiful things using color, that I treasure. My youngest, Emma...is color...she brings to life everything she touches...just like the bright golden sun rays....Dallin is color...he is the strong colors that others are drawn to and follow to become even better....Abby is color...in her own words as a five year old when asked what color she was expressing in dance class...."I am the color Rainbow"...that she is=)....Scott is color.....purple....it covers all moods and is royal...like the king he is. As for me...I am color...Black and white...if you know me, you know that is my favorite type of photograph...I love how it shows exactly what is felt.

Thank You Heavenly Father for Color.

 What color are you going to slide down today?=)

(Mom's attempt at a rainbow cake for Emma's 8th Birthday)

 Emma created this little turtle all by herself....Out of and egg carton,card stock, glue and googly eyes...She loves to color and create=)

 Dallins drew and colored his favorite shoe=) Can you tell he is a Tiger fan=)

 Abby created these colorful little bird and puff balls=)

Some of my favorite Black and white in our home=) 

On the first day of Thanksgiving...

Okay..I know I am a dork...but yes I am doing the 12 days of Thanksgiving...SO here  a goes....
On the First day Of Thanksgiving my Heavenly Father gave to me.....
Joy!

Expanding on that for a moment. I have always loved the word Joy...it is blissful to say...it brings a smile...its genuine. Last year a Christmas, an sweet friend dropped by our home with and unexpected Christmas wish. Her family gave us a block with the word JOY on it. She explained what the word meant to them...Jesus...Others...Yourself....JOY....LOVED IT!!!!! Brought a entirely different meaning to a beautiful word. She has no idea how much that ment, her kind visit brightened my holiday so much. What I would like to show gratitude with this word today is the O....Others. I have so many others in my life who serve me daily...bring me joy daily...others who have been placed in my life over my lifetime...who I may not interact on a daily, weekly or sometimes monthly basis....but always seem to know what I need, when it is needed...these individuals live close to the spirit....these individuals do the smallest things that impact me so much. These OTHERS genuinely care about my joy. For that I am thankful. Thankful my Heavenly Father has placed them in my life.

Movin' On....

Rascal Flatts- Movin' On

....

I've found you find strength in your moments of weakness
 For once I'm at peace with myself
I'm movin' on
I've lived in this place and I know all the faces
Each one is different but they're always the same
They mean no harm but it's time that I face it
They'll never allow things to change
But I never dreamed home would end up where I don't belong
I'm movin' on
I'm movin' on

At last I can see life has been patiently waiting for me
And I know there's no guarantee's, 
but I'm not alone
There comes a time in every one's life
When all you can see are the years passing by
And I have made up my mind that those days are gone

I'm movin' on!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

There comes a time in your life when you have to let go of the things that bring you down. That keep you from experiencing joy in life. The moment when you realize, what you thought and wanted, was simply to much to ask. You realized that when you asked and nothing changed...that was the answer. 

When you realize that all you needed to find joy in your life is to let go of the things/people who are weighing you down. 

It will be okay...It will be best....you will be better. Men are that they might have joy. I know I am loved by my Heavenly Father. I know that my sweet eternal family, Scott, Abby, Dallin, and Emma, we have joy. We go through things together...thick and thin...we do not take advantage of one another...We celebrate each others success, we cry with each others failures. We believe in each other. We understand what it means to be a forever family. There is no pretending we care for one another, we do. So today...taking that drive and moving on.....

Gratitude...

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
- Melodie Beattie

I was remembering back to a time when Scott and I were married a couple of years. We had just bought our first car, a Mazda 626.  Abby was about 6 months old. We were feeling grateful for all of our blessings. A good job, a beautiful baby, bills were paid. We decided to go for a drive and go to dinner at our favorite little ma and pop dinner. We were enjoying our meal and noticed a cute old couple eating by us. They were watching us as much as we were watching them.  As they left they came over and said how much we reminded them of when they were young and married and starting out. The asked us to enjoy this time. I will never forget the sweet spirit that couple carried with them...genuine kindness and love...how I longed to become like them...
As we got up to pay our bill, the waitress smiled and said it had been taken care of. WHAT!?! An overwhelming amount of pure joy filled our hearts. that sweet couple had paid for our dinner. They were long gone but our thanks and gratitude will forever be remembered. 
We could have paid for our meal...but I believe that when you are feeling the love of the Lord in your life, feeling gratitude for all you have...the Lord will send Angels. Angels that will make you want to be better, want to become something more.
We have tried to pay it forward when we can. There have been many moments just like these, that have come at the most unexpected times, needed times. I am grateful for this memory and will forever be grateful for the sweet couple who paid for our little families meal. I pray to be this for someone...sometime.....

Voting....

This picture has been the screen saver on my computer for the past 2 months...Kept me motivated to register again and vote. I took this responsibility very personal this time. Whether the candidates I chose to vote for were elected or not, I wanted my one vote to be counted among those who voted. Who cared. who supported.
As the presidential count was be tallied I watched with my kids...As the night went on and Romney began to be defeated, my heart sank...I have known for months that this would be...things will get worse for us...they have been written about and revealed to us through Prophets. I am not going to pretend this doesn't totally put fear into my every fiber...It does...Obama and what he doesn't stand for scares me. He is not my president...I will pray for him and this beautiful country....but he does not represent what I believe or stand for. He does not represent  or believe in what this country was founded on. As I stood and said the pledge of allegiance this morning in class...my heart was sad. United States of America....Under God...Obama and half this Nation voted and support horrible things...We are becoming a Divided States of America and I fear soon there will be no more Under God...The immoral state that America has become, we will fall. "When the people of this nation chose a leader of unrighteous over a leader of righteousness, destruction will come." With the media and the way they tore apart our religion and misrepresented it....no matter how many times they were corrected....Our freedom of religion seems to be lost as well.
But as I have been told and taught my entire life...If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear. I will follow the Prophet, live the Gospel and do what the Lord needs me to do. I will cling onto the truths more than ever and pray we will survive the falling of our nation...because it is happening...
I am grateful I was able to cast my vote, a vote that will be listed among those who supported morals, family, fiscal responsibility, self reliance...our former freedoms.  As for our country...we will destroy ourselves.

You Find Yourself...

"Find Yourself" Brad Paisley



When you find yourself, In some far off place

And it causes you, To rethink some things


When you go through life

So sure of where you're headin'

And you wind up lost

And it's the best thing that could have happened

'Cause sometimes when you lose your way

It's really just as well

Because you find yourself

Yeah, that's when you find yourself


I really love this song...reminded me of myself ....pretty lost...but as I have tuned into the needs of what my Heavenly Father wants from me...I am finding myself. This week I made dinner 7 times for my family and ate at the dinner table, together. I kept up on laundry, homework and dishes. I made a craft or two. Work was . left at work...except for the fun stories from my AP Psych class.....hahaha. The years when my kiddos were 12 and under, my entire focus was being a mother. I loved and lived for it...I found no greater joy than being a mom and wife to my family...my Heavenly Father helped me remember... This week I smiled.......So I guess when you wind up lost...maybe it is the best thing that can happen....because I feel like myself more and more each day. A Mom to my three adorable children who tell me at least 10 times a day they love me. A wife to the most incredibly supportive and cute hubby, who tells me I am pretty, even when i'm soooo not.....I am JUST Debi...ME=)

Blessed to be a part....

As my thoughts are focusing more on gratitude and being grateful for good things...I found myself reflecting about how blessed Abby, Emma and I are to be apart of the BYU Children's Dance Program. Every afternoon is occupied for us girls between the hours of 4-7. Dancing from the heart and being filled with the amazing spirit of dance. Being able to express ourselves through this amazing art. I look at all the many activities we are involved in...this is by far the most rewarding.
The past few years with Abby's busy schedule, we have considered not continuing for her. HOW grateful I am that we pray very hard about things, things that are important to us and decisions that can not be made on the whim...I am so busy...something must go moment. THIS MUST NEVER GO!

Each year as they perform the final concert of the year in the BYU De Jong concert hall...the spirit radiates from these girls. THERE IS NOTHING that compares to it....it is like watching a testimony through dance. It is one of the rare times I still see "My ABBY" The Abby unscathed by the hurts of the world. The Abby uninfluenced by what people think. The Abby full of life, confident in herself. A free Abby. I see her spirit and it radiates her Heavenly Fathers love for her. Emma was beautiful as her class danced as angels from heaven....breath taking. I am grateful my Heavenly Father placed this program in our path. This program is pure and beautiful.....unworldly.

Another blessing is the opportunities that come from this program. Being affiliated with BYU and the church Abby has had danced with several Delegation's from China and been able to express her testimony through dance to them.

This year she will participate in Christmas Around the World at the BYU Marriot Center, with her class. I am so grateful we follow inspiration and have made the sacrifice for these experiences. One of her pieces in the spring will be about the Civil War....I just saw the beginnings of it the other day and was brought to tears.

As for my role in the program...I feel humbled and honored to be teaching my little advanced 6 year olds...giving them an experience to love dance the way I do...to see there spirits grow from a little girls version of I love to dance...to hearing their mothers say they have a passion for what you are teaching them...they do your movement all through the house...they love Miss Debi.....and I love their sweet and open spirits, so teachable, so reachable, so mold able....Once a week I experience my own piece of heaven. I pray one day they will remember me ...Like I remember my Miss Morgan, Miss Janeen and Miss Debbie=) May the soles of your feet reach beyond the stars!

This is Abby's 13th year in  the program and will graduate from it when she graduates next year:,(. This is mine and Emma's 7th year.
This program is a tender Mercie in my life. I know the Lord provided the way for it to unfold. It has been a journey that started 20 years ago and would never imagined it would be such an intricate and  important part of our lives.

I am Blessed by this program and I hope...if you can...you will be touched one day by it too.


Abby and I...performing our dance JUST US @ BYU!  2007=)
 My Favorite Halloween Ever!!!!!

 Abby and KJ  at Sadie Hawkins 2012

Abby and Garret at Homecoming 2012

 Dallin recieving the Hope of America Award

Emma's Baptism....AWESOME!!!! 

Dallins last at bat before he broke his elbow=( ALL BETTER NOW 

Sadies group

 Emma and Hannah Best Miss and Little Miss Orem....Hannah played a piece for Emma's Baptism ....made it the perfect day=)

 Dallin and his goofy parents at 6th Grade Graduation

And last but not least...ONE GIANT MOUNTAIN FOR ABBY!!!! ALL BETTER threw her backhandspring tuck this week...mental block gone!!!!! WAHOOO!!!!!!!!

In my Children's Eye's

Greatful for this song today....It is  a family favorite. Each one of my children have brought me great joy and strength in ways nothing else could. I know my Heavenly Father is VERY aware of who I am, and loves me, by the choice and amazing spirits HE has allowed Scott and I to raise here, on this beautiful earth.
Abigail, Dallin and Emma....I love you!

In my children's eyes I am a hero


I am strong and wise and I know no fear

But the truth is plain to see

they were sent to rescue me

I see who I wanna be

In my childrenr's eyes



In my children's eyes everyone is equal

Darkness turns to light and the

world is at peace

This miracle God gave to me gives me

strength when I am weak

I find reason to believe

In my children's eyes



And when they wraps there hand

around my finger's

Oh it puts a smile in my heart

Everything becomes a little clearer

I realize what life is all about



It's hangin' on when your heart

has had enough

It's giving more when you feel like giving up

I've seen the light

It's in my children's eyes



In my children's eyes I can see the future

A reflection of who I am and what will be

Though they will grow and someday leave

Maybe raise a family

When I'm gone I hope you see how happy

they made me

For I'll be there

In my children's eyes

Months Ago....

6 Months Ago I started a post...but did not post or finish it...I wrote this...
Spending a lot of time pondering lately...pondering about my children...pondering about life....pondering about my sweetheart....pondering about time....pondering about my mountains....pondering about who I am...Some days I am overwhelmed by my thoughts...okay I am not gonna lie, most of the time I am overwhelmed by my thoughts. After conference the theme that stuck to my heart most was "Mountains"...I certainly do not pray for mountains to climb...and right now I certainly do not have the strength to pray for more than I have. But I have a picture now in my mind and heart that was not there before....eventually there is a top or peak and oh what a feeling it is when you reach the top and have overcome those tough steep climbs. As the past few months have been very emotionally challenging for me, I am climbing with faith that the Lord will accompany me and give me strength when I am lacking. As I have finished the climbs on somethings I see HIS hand in all things. For each climb has a purpose...I must remember not to give up or in and finish what He needs me to do, even though I do not understand....why me....why this....I am completely inadequate, to weak, to hurt,...He needs me to finish the climb.....so here I go continuing the climb, praying for understanding and help in all things....

Well another conference has gone by...still feeling overwhelmed and having a lot of thoughts...more along the lines of ...where have I gone...where am I...where has the person I used to be disappeared to? The influences of the outside world are breaking me in ways I was unprepared for. I never imagined people's words, could be so hurtful, there actions so painful. A couple of weeks ago I went searching for a post on Abby's 14th birthday party for a friend who need the details. I found my self hours later torn apart...Not recognizing who the person I used to be...overcome with sadness...she is lost...not because I am any less faithful to my family, church, or the Lord....because of the hardness of the people.   Emma looked at me the other night and said in her sweet, in tune voice, "Mom, why don't you smile any more....I miss your smile."   WOW! I wish I could say I didn't know...but I do...That old saying we have all heard from when we were kids..."Sticks and stones may break your bones, but names will never hurt me!" LIE! Names hurt, words hurt, and ACTIONS definitely speak LOUDER thank WORDS!   SO what to do, how to fix.....I had a great conversation with someone who I work with. He told me a story about a bucket....How full is my bucket? Well despite how full I try to fill others, mine pretty empty.   SO I begin a new chapter in my life, this week I am committing to closing old chapters and moving forward and filling my bucket as well as those around me.   I have been so blessed. I have an amazing husband, who continues to love me faithfully. 3 children I live for, would do anything for. Some close friends who keep me floating. A job. A house. A naughty dog and 3 silly ducks.   So anyhow sorry for all the honesty....Here are some fun pics about life here at the Crazilees.... or not can not seem to figure the new upload system...so next post=)

Perfectly

It was the crazy Tuesday Basketball games where I leave with the squad at 1:45 on the bus and Scott takes care of my normal mom duties.....I was sitting there during the games thinking about my children and how they can't even know how much I love them and want the very best for them...I saw this and it melted my heart....so true...such a wonderful thought.... So I got a phone call during the second, game it was Scott, he was frustrated with EVERYTHING, things had not gone in the planned order with the kids.He didn't know if he was going to meet me there for the final game....He came=) YAY! But he looked at me with eyes of understanding and said "I don't know how you do it! here, then there, in and out of the house, rushing from one thing to another...." He made me feel this way.... He is understanding........I love you babe!

Hello...

I know...Its has been a while...But I promised Beth I would post...so here you go. Life is like a roller coaster lately. I keep thinking...It will slow down after this week and then something else piles on to the load. I do NOT understand how we make it through each and every week....wait no I DO...PRAYER...FAITH.....TEARS......PRAYER....FAITH. I had a conversation with my very good friend who has now started working full time, after being a full time mom for 13 years. We were explaining to our husbands that while we do what we do and love our jobs....we hate them to0. We both long to be home...HOME for our children and just home. It truly brings no greater joy in my life than to be there for my children. It literally rips at my soul to miss things. To have Scott filling in where I should be. It is hard being sooooooo tired.....so tired that you tell your kids goodnight and they tuck you into bed. So many pressures from everywhere, people expecting so much. No one even thinks you struggle...EVER! Guess what....we do. We don't have it all together. In our moments by our self we cry....missing so much for things to slow down...enough to smell the roses. I have learned one thing more than ever......I am NOTHING and can accomplish NOTHING without my Heavenly Father. He has made me capable to do things I never would have thought I could do. Realizing that He has asked me to do these things and has given me the opportunity to do these things. So, I have been willing to do these things, and He directs and helps me become what I need to do and be. Therefore when I read this in one of the conference talks.....

He has given me the peace to know this, I have a very strong testimony that my most important calling in life is being a mother and that I SHOULD feel torn, it is what we as women are designed for. SO I am incredibly grateful I have never felt like, despite EVERYTHING I DO SQUEEZE IN, my children are not something I squeeze into my day. I love them with every piece of me and my soul. I do what I do for them and my sweetheart. So now that I have posted....it may be a while again....we are starting track season, baseball season, Miss Orem Season, on and on........Just know I have over 1000 pictures in my camera of our crazy life and all we do.......TOGETHER!!!!!

Phew....Made it....

The fall has been exciting....Dallin finished up his fall baseball season with the Rocks.He played super! Now he is deciding which super league team to play with in the spring=p Life's choices.....

This Picture is from Crazy Hair Day!

Cheer was in charge of the Sadie Hawkins Dance at the High School.

We chose the theme Sadie's Goes 80's.

We had a blast! The decorated great and totally got into dressing up! Seventeen Magazine Teens! HAHA Me and Emma at the Mini Cheer Night! She did a great job! Abby and my Cheerios

My JV girls decorated the house and my truck for our final home football game of the year! Such dollies! Abby did great in Cross Country this year. This is the Region race. The girls OHS Varsity Team qualified to go to STATE!=)

Top SIX VARSITY heading to UTAH STATE HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP!

THANKS GRANDMA AND GRANDPA T FOR COMING TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!

IT MENT SO MUCH TO ROO!!!!!!

Abby had this poster dropped of at her door the night before with gold balloons wishing her luck at state! The team did well at state took 6th. Abby moved up to the Number three spot on her team at state. Her season PR being 19:45 for her 3.1 mile. I so wished I had her state race on film she kicked in her 400 meter speed in the end and passed 10 girls in the last leg of her state race! We are so proud of her! This season was her choice, her desire, her dedication!

"To give anything less than your best, Is to sacrifice the gift!"

This is my Cheerios halftime for homecoming and the last game. Its not a great recording and the sound gets off at the end. They did great despite the cold and slippery grass! They sure work hard for me and for OHS!

Little Miss Mayor

Emma was chosen to be the first Mayor of the year for her class last week. She was chosen for her great example in leadership, learning, and following the rules. She loved it so much that she teared up knowing her term as mayor was over. We love her!!!!

This was her big birthday day! Just slow to getting around to it!Her birthday wish...Kanani!

We had to get her this chair....The chair was actually named EMMA.=)

Dallin made Emma her very own light saber. PINK! Things have been moving rapidly for our family. Dallin has been busy with baseball...Abby with cheer...Abby is doing well in cross country. She is running Varsity is top 5 for her team. Scott and I just taxi them all with luvs and hugs and enjoy this time being mom and dad. Dance starts up next week...ahhhh. Emma is now in the BYU Young Dancemakers and she gets to go twice a week! She is so excited!

Happy Anniversary to my sweetheart! Couldn't be happier! I am such a lucky ducky to be married to such a supportive, giving, loving, man! Here's to forever!!!

Oh Memmers!

Oh Emma! I Hope you know we think your are perfectly precious in every way! We hope your birthday was Perfect, Pink, and full of all your wishes coming true!!!!! Luv you baby girl!